The Election Commission has asserted that the use of CCTV cameras in polling booths does not violate voter privacy.
Media outlets had reported on certain people's statements following the by-polls to Gaibandha-5 that using CCTV cameras in booths to see who was voting for whom was a breach of privacy, the commission said in a press release signed by Joint Secretary SM Asaduzzaman issued on Sunday.
Such comments were misleading, the Election Commission said.
The commission said it had installed CCTV cameras to observe overall voting activities during the by-election.
It said it could not see whom the voters cast votes for; officials could only see if anyone entered a booth with the voter or instead of the voter, or if anyone stood by and gave instructions.
According to Section 31(7) of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, if a voter is blind or is otherwise so incapacitated that he cannot vote without the assistance of a companion, the presiding officer shall allow him such assistance and thereupon the voter may do with such assistance anything which a balloter is required or permitted to do under this order.
The commission said it was clear that the installation of CCTV cameras in polling booths did not in any way undermine the secrecy of the ballot.
